Did you know that some 1970 dimes are rare and valuable?
If you’ve found a 1970 Roosevelt dime in your spare change, you’re probably wondering if you have one of the rare dimes that’s worth a lot of money!
So, what should you look for? The answer — it’s not necessarily what’s on this rare 1970 coin, but what isn’t.
What Makes The 1970 Dime Valuable?
In 1970, Roosevelt dimes struck for circulation were made at the Philadelphia Mint and the Denver Mint:
- Philly didn’t place mintmarks on their dimes at that time — so when you come across a 1970 dime with no mint mark, it generally means it was made in the City of Brotherly Love.
- Dimes from the Mile High City of Denver have a “D” mintmark.
At the same time, the San Francisco Mint was striking Roosevelt dimes for proof sets (special coin sets made for coin collectors). These dimes made in the City by the Bay were all supposed to bear an “S” mintmark. Guess what? Not all of them did!
The 1970 no-S proof Roosevelt dime is a rare and valuable error variety, and it’s a coin that many collectors look for.
Identifying a 1970 no-S dime is simple…
You’ll need to look through 1970 United States Mint proof sets to find one. If you see a dime in one of these proof sets with no mintmark above the date, then you’ve found a winner!
How Rare & Valuable Is This Dime Error?
Not many 1970 no-S proof dimes exist. Experts believe the number may be around 500 to 1,000 examples, more or less.
As this dime error is a rare and sought-after variety, these coins are worth a lot of money, too. Most are worth $500 and up!
The record price for this dime error? Someone once paid $5,750 for an example graded by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation as Proof-69 Deep Cameo.
Tips For Finding The 1970 Dime Error
Chances are you may have found a 1970 dime with no mintmark in your pocket change — and you’re hoping that what you’ve stumbled upon is the error coin worth $500 or more.
Unfortunately, a 1970 dime without a mintmark that’s found in loose change is just a regular business-strike specimen from the Philadelphia Mint. (Remember, the Philadelphia Mint did not put mintmarks on its dimes in the early 1970s.)
So, is there a way you can add an authentic example of this error coin to your collection without paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars to a coin dealer to buy one?
YES! Start looking through 1970 proof sets.
Many coin collectors and even coin dealers overlook errors and varieties just waiting to be discovered in proof sets!
This strategy of finding an overlooked error or variety at a bargain is known as cherry picking. Many collectors are successful at it because they know what little things to look for. But they also have to be persistent and lucky to find a valuable rarity like this that has been otherwise undiscovered and offered at only “normal” price as if a regular, non-error coin.
Don’t expect to score the error on your first search through old proof sets at a garage sale or coin shop. But, if you’re lucky, you may just find a 1970 no-S dime this way!
How Much Are Other 1970 Dimes Worth?
Perhaps you’re looking for 1970 Roosevelt dime values for regular, non-error examples.
Here’s what other 1970 dimes are worth:
- 1970 no mintmark dime (Philadelphia) — These are very common dimes, with a mintage of 345,570,000. Since there are so many around and they don’t have any precious metal content, worn examples are worth only face value. Uncirculated pieces are worth about 30 cents or more.
- 1970-D dime (Denver) — These are also quite common… a whopping 754,942,100 were struck! They’re worth only face value when worn and about 30 cents and up in uncirculated grades.
- 1970-S proof dime (San Francisco) — The vast majority of 1970 proof dimes have their “S” mintmark. These normal 1970-S proof dimes are common collectibles, as 2,632,810 were produced. They’re worth $1.50 and up.
IMPORTANT: What Is The Grade Of Your 1970 Dime?
To determine the true value of your 1970 dime, you first need to know what condition (or grade) your coin is in.
Grab a coin magnifier and a copy of the U.S. Coin Grading Standards book. Then, watch this video to see how to grade coins yourself at home:
Other 1970 Dime Errors To Look For
In addition to the 1970 no-S proof dime, you may find other oddities on some of your 1970 dimes:
- Most are not errors — but rather just forms of post-mint damage.
- However, an occasional dime will pop up with a mint mistake.
These are the most common 1970 dime errors you are likely to find:
- Off-center strikes & misaligned dies – These are relatively common types of errors, in which the coin wasn’t perfectly centered under the die or the dies were misaligned. Values vary depending on how off-center the dime is, but generally start at around $5.
- Broadstrikes – When a coin isn’t struck in its retaining collar the finished piece will be wider and thinner than normal. Dimes struck this way won’t have a finished rim or any edge reeding. Values for a broadstruck clad 1970 Roosevelt dime range from about $10 to $20.
- Doubled dies – One of the most sought-after varieties, a doubled die is created on the die when it’s impressed with its design twice at two slightly different angles or locations. Doubling may be only noticeable under magnification, or it may be quite visible with the naked eye. Minor doubling on a 1970 dime may be worth only $10 or $20. Prominent doubling may fetch $500 or more.
How To Tell A Legit Error From Post-Mint Damage
Not sure if your 1970 dime is a legit error coin, or if it’s just got some post-mint damage?
Here’s how to tell:
- If your 1970 dime has any cuts, lines, or other weird things that go into the surface, it’s likely just damage.
- Unusual raised areas could be errors on a 1970 dime and may be worth having looked at by a numismatic professional.
READ NEXT: The Ultimate List Of Rare U.S. Dimes
I’m the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. I’ve authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!
